By Shaun McFadyen
•
16 Jun, 2021
Patio door maintenance is something most people with a sliding, French, or swinging door will need to face at least once in their lifetime. Trust us, it happens even in the best of households! Especially with sliding doors, since these backyard or porch entry doors are used all the time by your family — to relax in the garden, bask in the sun or even head downtown — these doors will eventually get broken. But there are a few things you can do to get your door back in shape. And if these tips don’t work, you can call us at (800) 672-3777 to help you out . Sometimes, a high-quality replacement door will be best. So read some maintenance tips for patio doors (sliding and swinging) below! Sliding Patio Door Maintenance Tips #1 Clean the sliding door track Especially if it’s a sliding door facing your yard, it’s probably got a lot of dirt and grime on its track. This can get the door wedged or make you need to force it open. Eventually, this extra brute force over time can even break the door permanently. So, get a toothbrush and start scrubbing. Get all the debris off and then use a vacuum. You’ll notice the door starts sliding more smoothly! #2 Lubricate the sliding door track Make sure your door slides well by lubricating it. Use any spray lubricant (like WD-40) and apply it throughout the track. #3 Adjust the rollers of the sliding door Sometimes, the height of the rollers is causing an issue. And you can fix this by adjusting their screws. Usually, these screws will be hidden behind a cap (which you can pry off with a knife). Once you reach the screws, it’s the time for trial and error: fasten or loosen the screws till you notice the door is running smoothly. It’s simple, but this tip solves many sliding door issues! #4 Lubricate the screws of the sliding door After you’re done adjusting the screws, it’s a good idea to spray some lubricant to make sure they stay in good shape. Swinging Patio Door Maintenance Tips #1 Lubricate the hinges of the swinging door If the swinging door is sticking (or requiring force to budge), then spray lubricant onto the wedges. It’ll probably get it back to normal again. If you find any rust, use steel wool or even dab some cola (yes, the soft drink) on the hinges. In some severe cases, you might need to remove the hinges and keep them in cola for at least a day. #2 For doors that swing too quickly, use a mallet or firm paper You can slow down doors by tapping the underside of the hinges with a mallet. This will make the pins spring out, which you can then bend gently to make sure the doors stop swinging so fast. Another option instead of using a mallet is to place some firm paper under the hinge (where it meets the frame). #3 Replace the hinges of the swinging door Sometimes, mallet and paper tricks won’t solve the problem. You’ll need to remove the hinge and get a new one. To replace it, remove the hinge pins and then unscrew it entirely. Pay attention to make sure the door doesn’t fall and that you install the new hinge correctly. As soon as you screw the new hinge, run some swing tests to make sure it works. And you should always apply some lubricant on the hinge if needed. Maintenance not working? Get in touch and we’ll get you a brand-new patio door Did you try all the tips and your patio door is still not working? Well, it’s time to retire that door and get a replacement door! But don’t worry — our team has 25+ years of experience installing doors in California. And financing is available if you’re on a tight budget. So, if you need a brand-new door installed, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team will go to your home, install the door for you, and make sure everything is working 100%. Our Available Patio Doors You can get a contemporary sliding door or French sliding/swinging doors. All these doors are energy-efficient and come with a high-end seal. That means you save money on utilities and even keep pesky bugs out of your home! Check out our patio doors We’re available in the following CA locations: Bay area LA area - Orange county Reno area Sacramento area San Diego area Get a quote today!